Trekkup Dubai ✔

Planet: Danakil.

Location: Galaxy of Ethiopia, close proximity to Sun.

Oxygen in norms, water towards lower limits. Life existent but limited due to temperatures, high population of flies.

Humans, known as Affars, use camels for extracting salt deposits of crystalized salt from the surface of volcanic lake. Salt mining unlimited on the connection of 3 tectonic plates - geological madness explained.

Potassium, salt, Sulphur, coffee, beers - unlimited. Sugar restricted.
Volcanic activity at high alert, fuming enormous, precautions taken.

Located in the Horn of Africa, Somalia is one the least developed and stable countries in the world. For a long time now, it struggles with an unfriendly climate and civil war but recently, due to global warming, the waves of droughts and floods are even bigger than before.
Among the most Godforsaken places on this planet, Mogadishu is way up there. Known as the capital city of the “failed state” of Somalia, it has been plagued by pirates, civil war and sectarian violence for years. So, it’s no wonder that it is the least annually visited tourist destination, worldwide. And if it wasn’t for the brave journalists who venture into these parts, the world wouldn’t actually know the extent of the volatility taking place.

The constant presence of rickshaws on the rough roads creates a somewhat perfect blend of Sudan and Bangladesh.
So yes, although not exactly a coveted holiday destination, visits are possible – and worth it – for the most daring of travelers. Most of the buildings that line the streets of Mogadishu, some would say, look like swiss cheese because of the sheer amount of bullet holes in them. While shop signage is literally spray painted on, graffiti style. And the multi-coloured, cardboard-shaped facades almost symbolically emphasize the fragility of the reconstruction of Somalia, as the seeds of commercialisation make an appearance on a shot-up canvas.
Somaliland’s status may be unofficial, but its hidden gems are officially amazing! Having declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but not yet recognized, it’s a country that’s not technically a country. For over three decades, Somaliland has now established many embassies worldwide, but remains unrecognized by the UN.

Hargeisa, the capital of a non-existent state, still makes an impression. It doesn't have spectacular monuments, but it has its own ambience. The buildings are mostly white, looking like they have been scorched by the sun, as the temperature here reaches up to forty degrees in the summer.
With curiosities around every corner, there are many tales to tell here: from friendly bustling camel markets to money exchanges with towers of bills, it’s surely one of Africa’s most unique destinations.
The cave paintings of Laas Geel (meaning “Well Camel”) spread over 10 alcoves are some of the most vivid rock arts in all of Africa. With depictions of horned cattle in ceremonial robes accompanied by their human herders with animals as varied as giraffes and even a domesticated dog. It’s estimated that these paintings originate nearly 20,000 years ago!

From the jaw-dropping wonders of Las Geel, to fish-heavy Mogadishu, horn of Africa holds many surprises, waiting for your curiosity to be unveiled!

Let’s go!!!

Day 1 // Somaliland :: Hargeisa
Meeting at DXB T2 at 2am for a direct flight to Hargeisa. After arrival and immigration, transfer to hotel for a quick rest before heading into town for a walking tour of central market, war memorial, and a stop at livestock exchange for those who want to purchase a goat or a camel. Afterwards we’ll head to dinner at restaurant run by Yemeni refugees. We’ll have a chai with the locals before heading back to hotel.

Day 2 // Somaliland :: Laas Geel + Berbera
After breakfast drive to the caves and rock arts of Las Geel. We’ll explore the colourful paintings estimated to be nearly 20,000 years old and the second oldest in all of Africa! Continue to Berbera and Batalale beach. Return to Hargeisa.

Day 3 // Somalia :: Mogadishu
Short flight to Mogadishu, immigration clearance and check in to the hotel in Green Zone. After lunch we ll head to the roof of Sahafi hotel for a view of metropolis. From here we ll head for Makka Almukarama Road, one of the busiest street followed by city highlihgts: Daljirka Dahsoon and city monumnets. Short break for coffee and head to Lido beach for a boat trip and interaction with local or two. Back to Green Zone for overnight.

Day 4 // Somalia :: Mogadishu
Today we start with fish market for some day catch of sharks, tune and perhaps a turtle. Follow to Mogadishu lighthouse and old port with Ottoman buildings, where fisherman unload the tuna on their backs. Followed by Shanghai old city, we will make a stop at Bakara market, Black Hawk Down site for a selfie with remaining tank. Quick look at camel market, as Somalia is a home to 20% of worldwide population of 35m.

Day 5 // Departure
In the morning return to airport for a flight back home. Bye, bye Horn of Africa!

Activity: sightseeing, short hiking, boating, cultural immersion.
Accommodation and meals: 4* hotels, single rooms. Meals excluded.

Cost: 9,800 AED all incl. flights and visas, until OCT 10th.
Past this date cost will change.

Specifically excluded: visa on arrival fees in Somaliland ~60 USD, evisa Somalia ~64 USD, restaurant meals, insurance, photography fees if any.

Yellow Fever Certificate is mandatory for this trip.

See yah in Horn of Africa x
Trekkup Crew

Home to some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in the world, colorful cities and thriving markets, Pakistan is opening to the world, charming us with untouched nature at the confluence of 3 mountain ranges. Hunza is a part of Karakoram, known for the striking beauty of the snow peak mountains, glacier lakes and valleys.

Hunza is situated at an elevation of 2,438 meters in the northernmost Pakistan, bordering with the Wakhan Corridor of Afghanistan and the Xinjiang region of China.

The birthplace of voodoo and pivotal centres of the slave trade for nearly three centuries, Benin, Togo and Ghana have rich and complex histories and fascinating cultural traditions that continue today.

We’ll discover this little known corner of West Africa on an 11-day journey deep into these countries’ northern reaches and along the Gulf of Guinea coast, to the heart of the regions where voodoo is still widely practiced today.

We will wander the fetish markets for relics, sail through stilt villages, and discover the mysteries of ancient practices.

In Benin, formerly known as Dahomey, we will get to know the roots of Voodoo beliefs and practices. The country is also famous for its wonderful local craftsmanship and numerous bustling bazaars. We’ll look through the often-surprising assortment of offerings at a fetish market, visit the Python temple, and explore the Slave Route in Ouidah, a place where enslaved peoples were sold and forced to bid farewell to their homeland forever.

With a population of around 20,000, Ganvie is the largest lake village in Africa, standing on stilts in the middle of Lake Nokoue. 500 years later after its founding, the people of Ganvie have developed their own distinctive culture and lifestyle on the lake. Shaky houses, churches, mosques and other structures are built using red ebony wood, which is resistant to rotting and hence ideal for the watery conditions.

Neighboring Togo is a narrow strip of land located to the west of Benin. Another stronghold of Voodoo and animist practices, and a key region of the so-called "Slave Coast" in centuries past, it features picturesque hilltop villages and palm-lined beaches. Togo has suffered under the colonisation of three different nations, resulting in a melting pot of influences that linger to this day.

Here we will have the opportunity to learn about the customs of local communities, from mudbrick castle architecture of the Somba people and traditional ceremonies like the Fire Dance to animist beliefs reflected at shrines and fetish markets. We’ll make our through verdant landscapes and have close encounters with wildlife, visiting the Valley of the Bats and spotting rare butterflies in the green hills.

Ghana, the economic powerhouse of Western Africa, is a place where modernization intertwines with ancient rituals. Home to several very unique traditions, such their elaborately decorated coffins, Ghanians are open and welcoming people, and there will be excellent opportunities here to see the true face of Africa.

Côte d’Ivoire is the undisputed cocoa superpower: about 40% of the world’s chocolate begins its journey here. Add coffee, palm oil, and rubber plantations stretching to the horizon, and you get a country that essentially fuels your morning routine and your dessert cravings. Along the coast, palm-fringed beaches and historic trading towns tell stories of centuries of commerce and cultural exchange, while inland communities preserve ancient traditions, ceremonies, and beliefs that continue to shape everyday life.

From encounters with Voodoo priests and slithering reptiles to immersion in colorful markets and lush jungles, this trip is a deep dive into the culture and landscapes of West Africa. Our journey through this little-known region will surely reveal plenty of surprises, leaving you will memories of a lifetime and a few stories to tell!